Advantages And Disadvantages Of Installing A Concrete Driveway

Concrete is one of the toughest road construction materials. Concrete is still highly popular in the road construction industry. Concrete usually consist of various aggregates including small rocks all bound together by concrete cement paste. Concrete is used to construct very tough surfaces and structures in road construction. For instance, concrete curbs and gutters are installed along the roadside to create pavement borders and also to manage storm water drainage. Concrete is also used for the construction of pavements, driveways, parking lots, and all types of roadways. But concrete is still not the most popular road construction material. Asphalt is the leading material for road construction. This is because when it comes to road construction, asphalt has several advantages over concrete. Greenville asphalt paving has continued to be very popular as compared to concrete paving. This article features the various advantages and disadvantages that make concrete the second most popular road construction material in the world.

Advantages

Concrete is still a highly popular road construction material in the world. This is because of its many pros as compared to other road construction materials. We will now look at the major advantages of using concrete when constructing your private or public driveway.

Recommended For Hot Weather

Concrete is able to withstand extremely hot weather conditions. Asphalt, its main competitor in the road construction industry, is not well suited for extreme hot weather conditions that exceed 100 degrees. If you live in a very hot locality, then you should install a concrete driveway. The main problem with asphalt is that it tends to soften and become an oily paste in extremely hot temperatures. Meanwhile, a concrete driveway will stay the same even when the temperatures go past 100 degrees.

Requires Less Maintenance

Concrete does not require preventive maintenance like asphalt. If you install a concrete driveway, you will only need to have the joints sealed once a year. With regular cleaning, your concrete driveway will last for a very long time. But when it comes to asphalt driveways, you will need to have them inspected regularly for any cracks. You will also have to fill all cracks as soon as possible. You also need to have the asphalt driveway seal coated within a year and resealed every 2-3 years.

Lasts Long

Concrete driveways can last for a very long time. With regular cleaning and the annual joint sealing, your concrete pavement can last for years without any physical damages. Remember that concrete is a very tough material that requires minimal maintenance and lasts for very long.

Many Design Options

Concrete is an incredibly appealing road construction material that offers many different design options. You can choose any color or texture for your concrete driveway or parking lot. And if installed properly, the finished concrete driveway will be very appealing.

Disadvantages

Although concrete is a great road construction material, it has its own limitations. This is why asphalt remains the most popular road construction material in the world today. Let us look at some of the cons of using concrete to build your driveway.

Unsuitable For Cold Weather

Concrete contracts and expands in changing weather conditions. If you live in a very cold environment, where temperatures go well below zero, do not install a concrete driveway. The concrete driveway will suffer cracks and frost heaves in cold weather.

Expensive And Takes Longer To Install

Concrete requires more time than asphalt to install. You will need twice the time and money to install a concrete driveway. This is because concrete costs more and requires more time to set and cure than asphalt.